16 GOSPEL NEWS
In the spotlight
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ISAAC CARREE
saac Carree has one of the finest voices in gospel. The son of a pastor, Isaac came to the fore 25 years ago, singing with gospel legend, John P Kee. He then joined Men of Standard - a group known for their exceptional vocal skills - before going solo. His earnest and unique artistry has landed him at #1 on Gospel Billboard Charts and on gospel radio multiple times. His popular songs include ‘In The Middle’ and ‘Clean This House’. After a six-year break, Isaac, an awardwinning artist, is back with a new album release entitled No Risk No Reward. Taking risks is something the Atlanta-based Renaissance man is well acquainted with. His motto is “Why not?!” He explains: “I’m intentional about everything I do. Sometimes I do things even if I am afraid, but I do it! Why not?!” It is this spirit that led the singer to step away from the recording scene to allow himself the opportunity to explore various creative avenues. “Allowing myself this time afforded me the opportunity to shift the trajectory of my mind, and to reset to prepare for this moment now,” shares Carree. “I had the life-changing experience of touring with Diddy and the Bad Boy Reunion Tour. I also toured with Tim McGraw and Faith Hill on the Soul II Soul World Tour and had the time of my life. After being away from the industry and not having new music out for six years, it feels really good to be back and to partner with Zoe Records who believe in my vision.” No Risk No Reward features the album’s first and chart-climbing single ‘Her’. This ballad is a powerful anthem from men to their women. It is Isaac Carree’s tribute to his wife, Dietra. “I love my wife,” says Carree. “She deserves NOTHING but the best! We’ve grown together, we’ve had our ups and our downs, but she stuck with me by my side. She’s loyal, she’s a prayer warrior, she’s the mother of our child, so this song embodies how GRATEFUL to God I am for HER!” Isaac is an artist who is totally at ease with himself. “There’s no one like me because God only made one me, and I’m comfortable doing me,” confesses the award-winning singer, songwriter and producer. “So I embrace whatever comes with that!” Like Kirk Franklin, The Winans and Andraé Crouch before him, with No Risk No Reward Isaac Carree stretches the musical boundaries
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of gospel and inspirational r’n’b to bring the message to a wider audience. As such, No Risk No Reward is a beautifully-produced, musically varied album that runs the gamut from urban contemporary grooves to old school gospel. Isaac is joined by Eric Dawkins, Gene Moore, Zacardi Cortez and Jason Nelson on a new version of ‘Ordinary Just Won’t Do’, in tribute to influential gospel group, Commissioned. Other collaborations include Kirk Franklin (on the Interlude ‘Love’); Lisa Knowles & The Brown Singers (‘What Kind of Man’), and Parker Dawkins (‘The Win’), among others. No Risk No Reward is Isaac Carree’s third solo recording, and is produced by Dove Award-winner and two-time Grammy Awardwinning producer, Blac Elvis, who shared: “Working with an artist like Isaac Carree is a breath of fresh air!
BY M ARC IA D I XON M BE
I don’t simply wanna label him a ‘gospel artist’, because he’s so much more!” As with many 21st century artists, Isaac does more than sing. He presents a radio show called Good Vibes on Kirk Franklin’s Praise, Channel 64 on Sirius XM. He also recently published his debut book, Service: My Life. My Words. My Truth, which encourages readers to fulfil their God-given potential. It’s evident that Isaac is not frightened to take risks - musical or otherwise - in pursuance of fulfilling God’s purpose and sharing his talents and gifting with others. And it’s also evident that releasing No Risk No Reward was a risk worth taking. No Risk No Reward is available on digital platforms, including Apple Music, Spotify and Deezer. Visit www.isaaccarree.com for more info
